Beer dispensing device



Patented July 6, i 1937 BEER. DISPENSING DEVICE Richard T. Cornelius, Minneapolis, Minn. I ApplicationA March 23, -1936, Serial No. 70,364

6 Claims.

My invention relates to beer dispensing devices and has for an object to provide a device by means of which beer may be drawn in a manner to procure the desired amount of foam or collar on the beer when discharged into any type of drinking vessel.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a devicein which the amount of foam produced can be varied.

An object of the invention resides in providing a dispensing device including a flow regulating device and a faucet and in which the rate of flow can be adjusted independently of the operation of the faucet. l

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the tubular member with a conical bore having an intermediate conical portion and cylindrical portions at the end thereof and In providing a core constructed withv a conical portion adapted to be disposed within the conical portion of the bore in spaced relation thereto and with cylindrical guides at the ends thereof guided for movement within the cylindrical portions of the bore.

'An object of the invention resides in providing means for reciprocating said core within the bore to vary the cross sectional area of the annular space between the core and bore.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a rack and pinion for reciprocating the core.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and.

in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a longitudinal -elevational sectional view of a beer dispensing device applied to a beer cabinet and illustrating an embodiment of my invention and showing the faucet open. i

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l illustrating cer.- tain of the parts in elevation and showing the faucet closed.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

My invention consists of two parts, a ow regulating device which I have indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral lA and a faucet indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral B. The particular form and construction' of and the arrangement of the various elements oi these parts will now be described in detail. l

The -ow regulating device A consists of a tubular member l0 threaded upon its exterior at one end as indicated at I I. This tubular member is formed with a bore I2 extending throughout the length of the same, which bore is provided intermediate its ends with a conical portion I3. At the outer end of the tubular member Ill, bore I2 is provided with a cylindrical portion I4 and at its inner end with another 5 cylindrical portion I5.- Thencylindrical portion I5 issmaller in diameter -than the portion I4. The various portions of this bore function in a manner to be presently described.

For the purpose of illustrating the application 10 of the invention, la portion of a beer cabinet which representsone of the vertical Walls thereof has been illustrated in the drawing and designated by the reference numeral I6. This device has a cylindrical horizontal hole I1 in it 15 through which the tubular member I 0 of the ilow regulating device A extends. The'tubular member I0 is mounted on the wall I6 as follows:

Near the outer end of the said tubular member is formed thereon a shoulder I3. A collar I9 encircles the tubular member Ill and is seated against the shoulder I8 and also against the frontv surface of the wall I6 of the beer cabinet. A nut 22 threaded upon the threads II of the tubular member I0 seats against the inner sur- 25 face of the wall I6 of. said beer cabinet and holds the tubular member I0 in proper position.

Within the tubular member Ill is provided a core 23 -which is constructed with a conical surface 24 of the same degree of taper as the 30 conical surface I3 of bore I2. This conical surface is of smaller dimensions than the portion I3 of bore I2 so that an annular space 25 is formedv between the core 23 and tubular member I0 which is constricted in cross section. Core 5 23 is constructed at its inner end 28 with a collar 26 which is of the same diameter as the cylindrical portion I5 of bore I2 and which slides along said portion of the bore to-guide the inner end of the core 23 for reciprocating movement 40 within said bore. At a locality inwardly from the outer end 29 of the .core 23, is provided another collar 21 which rides along the cylindrical portion I 4 of bore I2 and guides the core 23 at its other end for reciprocating movement within said bore.

The'inner end 28 of core 23 is constructed with a hole 32 which extendsraxially for a short distance into the same,`being open to the bore I2 at one end. Encircling thisportion of the core 23 50 is an annular depression or groove 33 which forms a space or passageway 34 between the core 23 and the cylindrical portion I5 of bore I2 and which communicates with the constricted pas sageway 25 within the regulating device A. A 55 number of radial holes 35 drilled fthrough the end portion 23 of the core 23 bring the hole 32 in communication with the space 34.; The outer end 29 of the core 23 is constructed in a similar manner. A hole 35 is drilled axially along said core and extends inwardly into the same and past.

'in the end 29 of the core 23 and bring said space 31 in communication with the hole 36.

In order to observe the condition of the beer entering the faucet a window indicated in its entirety bythe reference numeral 42 is utilized which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 2. This window is constructed as; follows: In the extreme end 43 of the tubular member |0 is formed an annular recess 44 in which is inserted a glass tube 45. At the end of the said recess is provided a gasket 45 against which this tube abuts. An opening 41 in the portion 43 of tubular member I0 and registering with the glass tube 45 permits observation of the beer passing through said tube. 'I'he other end of the tube 45 is seated against a gasket 43 disposed within a coupling 49. Coupling 49 is provided with a threaded portion 52 which screws upon the threads Il of the tubular member I0 clampingl the glass tube 45 firmly in position and forming a fluid tight connection between the tubular member I0 and glass tube 45. The coupling 49 is constructed with a nipple 53 to which an ordinary pipe connection 54 may be attached, which pipe connection serves to connect the beer supply pipe 55 to the regulating devicelA.

The faucet B consists of a body 56 having a horizontal portion 51, a forwardly inclined portion 53 and a spout 59. The horizontal portion 51 is constructed with a horizontal passageway 52 which receives the protruding part of the forward end 23 of the core 23l and which communicates with the holo 35 in said core. The part 55 is constructed with a guide 53 at its upper end and is formed with a valve chamber 64 at its lower end. In the guide 53 is provided a cylindrical guideway 55 which guides a plunger 55 for reciprocating movement. The spout 59 is constructed with a'n outlet passageway 51 having a horizontal portion 53 offset from the inlet passageway 52 and with a depending portion 59 communicating therewith.

Between the-outlet passageway 53 and the inlet passageway 52 and within the valve chamber 34 is provided a passageway 10 which is surrounded by a valve seat 12. Plunger 55 is constructed with a valve stem 13 which extends into thevalve chamber 54 and which has attached 'to it a valve head 14. This valve headisadapted end of the plunger 55. To make the faucet B oomplctasocketllisfox'medintheball adjacent the insert 1a into which the extreme end of the guide 53 extends when the faucet is open.

In order to insert the plunger 55 into guideway 55, an opening 33 is formed in the body 55 directly opposite the seat 12. This opening is threaded to receive a plug 34 which closes Ysaid opening.

To maintain the plunger 55 in open position, friction means are provided which act between said plunger and the guide 53. For this purpose a transversely extending hole 35 is formed in plunger 55. Two shoes 35 and 51 are disposed in this hole and are urged apart by means of a compression coil spring 83, disposed between the same. These shoes bear against the guideway 55 of the guide 53 and hold the plunger 55 in adjusted position.

Adjacent the valve head 14 on stem 13 of plunger 55 is an enlargement 89 of said stem which fits closely to the wall of passageway 10 threads 92 while within the interior of the same Y is formed an annular recess 93. Tubular member i0 extends into this recess and is constructed with acollar 94 in proximity thereto. A threaded cap 95 encircles the said tubular member and engages the collar 94. This cap serves to draw the end of the tubular member I0 into engagement with a gasket 90 seated against a shoulder 95 formed at the end of the recess 93 forming a uid tight connection and thereby holding the faucet rigidly attached to the tubular member i0.

For the purpose of reciprocating core 23 to increase or decrease the cross sectional area of the constricted passageway 25, the following construction is employed. Formed on the end 29 of core 23 are a number of annular gear teeth 91 which are spaced from oneanother and which in conjunction form a rack. A 4spindle 93 is journaled in a bushing 99 which in turn is screwed into threads |02 formed in the portion 51 of body 55 oi' faucet B. This spindle carries a pinion |03 which meshes with the rack teeth 91. Spindle 93 is further constructed with a stub shaft |04 at the extreme end thereof which is journaled in a bearing |05 formed in the portion 51 oi' housing 55. The bushing 99 is constructed with a stufiing box ||0 and is threaded to receive a gland |05 which forms a fluid tight connection between the spindle 93 and the body 55. Spindle 93 may be rotated by means of a hand wheel |01. This hand wheel is constructed with a square hole |03 extending through the same, which hole receives a square shank |09 on `the end of the spindle 93. A nut 2 screwed upon threads ||3 at the end of said spindle holds the hand wheel |01 rigidly attached to the spindle. It will be readily comprehended that the pinion |03 may fbe rotated upon rotating the hand wheel |01I the tubular member I0 passes into the hole 32 in the end of the core 23 thence through the holes into space 34 and from this space into the constricted passageway 25. In owing Y through the passageway 25 suflicient friction is hence passes through these passageways and CJD into valve chamber 64. From valve chamber 64 the beer passes past the seat 12 through passageway 10 and into the portion 68 of passageway 61 of spout 59, and is then discharged through the portion 69 of said passageway and into the drinking vessel to be filled. By cutting the end |08 of the spout 59 at an angle as shown in Fig. 1 and by making the portion 69 of said passageway extremely short, the passageway 61 becomes automatically vented by air entering the' upper portion of said passageway while the beer is leaving the lower portion. When the plunger 66 is partly raised so as to bring the enlargement 89 within the passageway 10, a constriction such as indicated at |09 in Fig. 2 is provided which causes agitation of the beer and produces foaming thereof. `By holding the plunger 66 at the proper position, it can readily be seen that clear beer or beer without any amount of foam or collar ca n be produced. By rotating the hand wheel |01 to vary the cross sectional area of the ccnstricted passageway 25, the rate of'flow of the beer through the device can be regulated. The device is so regulated that the desired rate of flow can be secured, by mo-ving the plunger 66 inwardly as far as it will go. By then raising the said plunger the ow is entirely shut oi.

My invention is highly advantageous in that an extremely compact and eicient device is provided which may be installed in existing beer dis'- pensing systems without reconstruction thereof. The regulating device is mounted in that portion of the dispensing device which extends through the bar xture or beer cabinet so that the said regulating device extends but within a short distance into the interior of the cabinet, thereby making it possible to install the device in cabinets where the space is extremely limited. By means of the adjustment provided a clear beer can be drawn at any desired now within the limits of the device. In addition any amount of agitation can be given to the beer so that any percentage of foam forming the collar of the beer may be procured. My invention is extremely simple to operate and has a minimum number of moving parts. There are no parts in my invention which will readily get out of order and the entire device will operate indenitely.

Changes in the specific form of my invention. as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimd Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

' Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a member having a bore therein defined by a conical wall and cylindrical walls at the ends of the conical wall, a conical core smaller than said bore and disposed within the same in spaced relation to the walls thereof to form an annular restricted passage-- way therebetween, and guides at the ends of said core, said guides being slidably mounted in the portions of said bore defined by the cylindrical walls, said cylindrical walls guiding said core for axial movement along said bore to vary the cross sectional area of said passageway, said core being constructed at said guides to form passagee ways communicating with said restricted passageway and extending past said guides.

2. In combination, a -member having a bore therein dened by a conical wall and cylindrical walls at the ends of the conical wall,Y a conical core smaller than saidA bore and disposed within the 'same in spaced relation to the walls there- `of to form an annular restricted passageway therebetween, collars formed on the ends of said core and engaging said cylindrical walls, and serving as guides for guiding said core for axial movement along said bore to vary the cross sectional area of said passageway, said core being constructed at the locality of said collars to form passageways communicating with said restricted passageway and extending past said collars.

3. In combination, a member having a bore therein defined by a conical wall and cylindrical walls at the ends of the conical wall, a conical core smaller than said bore and dis-posed within the same in spaced relation to the walls thereof to iorm an annular' restricted passageway therebetween, collars formed on the ends of said core and engaging said cylindrical walls, and serving as guides for guiding said core for axial movement along said bore to vary the-cross sectional area of said passageway, said core being constructed adiacent said collars with transverse holes communicating with said restricted passageway, and at its ends with longitudinal holes communicating with said transverse holes to form passageways communicating with said restricted passageway and extending past said collars.

4. In combination, a member having a bore therein defined by a conical wall and cylindrical walls at the ends of the conical wall, a conical core smaller than said bore and disposed within the same in spaced relation to the walls thereof to form an annular restricted passage- Way therebetween, collars formed on the ends ofsaid core and engaging said cylindrical walls, and serving as guides for guiding said core for axial movement along said bore to vary the cross sectional area of said-passageway, said core being constructed adjacent said collars with recesses communicating with said restricted passageway together with transverse holes communieating with said recesses-.and atits ends with longitudinal holes communicating with said transverse holes to form passageways communieating with said restricted passageway and extending past said collars. y

5. In combination, a member having a bore therein dened by a conical wall and cylindrical walls at the ends of the conical wall, a conical core smaller than said bore and disposed within the same in spaced relation to the walls thereof to form an annular restricted passageway therebetween, and guides at the ends of said core, said guides being slidably mounted in the portions of said` bore defined by the cylinman walls, said cylindrical wans guiding said '15 said bore to vary the cross sectional area of said passageway, an extension on said core at one end thereof, a. plurality of axially spaced annular gear teeth on said extension, concentric with said core and forming a' rack extending longitudinally of the core, and a pinion rotatably mounted relative to said member and engaging said rack for reciprocating said core within the bore.

RICHARD T. CORNELIUS. 

